LAO Facts
Role of the LAO
The office serves as "eyes and ears" for
the Legislature to ensure that the executive branch is implementing legislative
policy in a cost efficient and effective manner. The office carries out this
legislative oversight function by reviewing and analyzing the operations and
finances of state government.
Historically, one of the most important
responsibilities of the LAO has been to analyze the annual Governor's budget
and publish a detailed review at the end of February. This document, the Analysis
of the Budget Bill, includes individual department reviews and
recommendations for legislative action. A companion document, the Perspectives
and Issues, provides an overview of the state's fiscal picture and
identifies some of the major policy issues confronting the Legislature. These
documents help set the agenda for the work of the Legislature's fiscal
committees in developing a state budget. Staff of the office work with these
committees throughout the budget process and provide public testimony on the
office's recommendations.
More generally, the office is a staff
resource to all legislators. The LAO also performs the following functions:
Budget "Control."
The LAO reviews requests by the administration to make changes to the budget after
it is enacted. These reviews are used primarily by members of the JLBC and the
fiscal committees.
Special Reports.
Throughout the year, the office prepares special reports on the state budget
and topics of interest to the Legislature.
Initiatives and Ballot Measures.
The office estimates the fiscal effect on state and
local government of all proposed initiatives (prior to
circulation) and prepares analyses of all measures that qualify for the statewide
ballot.
Forecasting.
The LAO forecasts the state revenues and expenditures.
Who to
Contact
For a specific
program-related question, see our
areas of
responsibility on this site.
Publications
The office's publications are available in
hard copy as well as on the LAO web site at www.lao.ca.gov.
Generally, reports are accessible on the office's home page the same day they
are released to the Legislature.